W&O Supplies Actuated Valve Solution for Vigorous
The marine industry watched as the United States’ largest floating drydock, the Vigorous, was delivered to its final home at Vigor Industrial’s Portland shipyard on the Willamette River in August.
W&O is one of the partners that supported Vigor in this $40 million dollar project, by providing an actuated valve solution for the ballast system of the drydock. From design specification through initial commissioning, the W&O team has provided technical and product expertise for the Vigorous ballast system, utilizing SPACE Gate Valves, EIM Electric Actuators, reach rods and deck stands. One supplier for all of these critical components assured an integrated system that will provide Vigor with long term and reliable operation.
W&O product managers and sales leaders were involved at the inception of the Vigorous project in a solutions-provider role, providing technical information, product specifications and project assistance spanning the past three years. David Lamphier, W&O product manager, traveled to Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Qidong Marine Engineering in Jiangsu, China on several occasions to provide on-site technical assistance to the drydock builder, including pre-installation technical support and initial commissioning of the vessel.
“The Vigorous is an exciting project for the U.S. marine industry as a whole, and for W&O as a partner and supplier on the project,” said Michael Hume, president and CEO of W&O. “The presence of this new, large-scale drydock will be an asset to the industry on the Pacific Coast. This was also a great opportunity for W&O to work alongside the Vigor team to showcase our wide range of engineered solutions capabilities, provide project input and technical support on actuation needs, and continue to be the strategic partner the industry has known for decades.”
“W&O takes great pride in building relationships with our customers beyond just a product supplier,” said W&O Director of Technical Projects, Fred Loomis. “We sit down with them as early in the design process as possible to work together on the best technical solutions to meet their needs. The Vigorous project is a great example of our team working hand-in-hand with the customer, architects and builders to put together an outstanding final result.”
SPACE valves have been manufactured by W&O since the early 1990s and are ABS and USCG approved. On-site factory inspectors check all stages of manufacturing, stem tolerances, Rockwell hardness of washers and material composition. SPACE valves feature internal stem modifications to eliminate galling with dry cargo, CR13 trim for fuel and cargo applications, and higher grade aluminum bronze materials, as recommended by ABS, for salt-water applications. SPACE valves are used throughout the world on barges, container ships, tankers, offshore rigs, ferries and fishing boats.
SPACE valves are available from stock as OS&Y and NRS Gates, Swing Checks, Globes, Angles and Stop Checks in sizes 2-inch through 24-inch. They can also be produced in sizes up to 54-inch. The SPACE line is available in hard-to-get marine sizes such as 3.5- and 5-inch. SPACE cast steel valves are also available in marine bronze, CR-13, 316 stainless, Monel and full satellite trims. W&O’s valve shop can customize and modify SPACE cast steel valves with indicators, by-passes, reach rod systems, actuators and many other options.
wosupply.com
